Vijai Pandian column: When to plan vegetables

3:33 PM,
Apr. 4, 2013

Pepper seedlings

Written by

Vijai Pandian

It's time to get a head start in growing vegetable seeds indoors. Depending on the hardiness, cold tolerance, and frost free days, vegetable plants vary in their seed starting and transplanting period. Cool season crops like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts should be started indoors at 6-8 weeks before the last spring frost. This gives sufficient time for the seedlings to grow and harden before transplanting outdoors. Other cool season crops like onion sets, peas, radish, spinach, turnip, lettuce, and potatoes are directly planted/seeded outdoors at 4 weeks prior ...